Weather Eye: a bumper year for snails

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The particular talent of snails for predicting rain is probably no great surprise considering their liking for wet weather

Last year’s deluges of rain made it a bumper year for snails as they slithered out in huge numbers and ransacked gardens across the country. And if this year is also drenched we can expect an even greater population explosion of snails and their slimy trails.

Snails also have quite a reputation in folklore for their weather predicting skills. When snails climb a plant or post it is supposed to mean that rain is coming, and an old Scottish saying goes:

“Snailie, snailie, shoot out your horn, And tell us if it will be a bonnie day the morn.”

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